The Curtis Institute of Music trains exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level. Enrollment is small - about 160 students per year, based on the musicians needed for a symphony orchestra, opera department, and select programs in piano, organ, harpsichord, composition, and conducting.
Curtis provides a personalized education, the cornerstone of which is one-on-one study with some of today's leading musical artists. Admission is highly selective, with approximately 5 percent of applicants accepted each year.
All students receive full-tuition scholarships based on merit, ensuring that talent is the sole consideration for admission. Curtis is widely considered one of the most prestigious conservatories in the world. Mary Louise Curtis Bok first opened the doors in 1924. Today, Curtis follows many of the same principles set forth by Mrs. Bok.
Students may pursue a Diploma or Bachelor of Music degree. Vocal students may also pursue a Master of Music degree or Professional Studies Certificate. Currently 162 students from the United States and 18 foreign countries study with Curtis's celebrated 91-member faculty, which includes Richard Danielpour, Leon Fleisher, Pamela Frank, Mikael Eliasen, Gary Graffman, Jennifer Higdon, Ida Kavafian, Jaime Laredo, Seymour Lipkin, Edgar Meyer, Otto-Werner Mueller, Ned Rorem, Aaron Rosand, Joseph Silverstein, Ignat Solzhenitsyn, members of the Guarneri Quartet and many of the principal players of the Philadelphia Orchestra.